We've been around since Jesus met the woman at the well
Walked these roads ten thousand years.
Look how far we've come, do we know who we are?
Here's to those that came before us, what we've kept inside
Our people came across the water, praying for a brand new start
Hand in hand across the mountains, and the ragin' rivers wide
To find a place where love abides.

Cursed are we who forget the past, but pray and don't despair
Rise up all you ancestors, and dance upon your graves.
We've come to hear your voices, maybe we'll be saved.T. Russell, The Man From God Knows Where

Dear
DescendantDo not over my memory pine; I am not dead.
I am the winds that blow. I am the flakes of new fresh snow.
I am the rainbow from mountain showers. I am spring's new wildflowers.
When you wake in morning's hush, I am the swift skyward rush
Of birds in patterned flight. I am the stars at night.
Do not over my memory pine, I did not die. I am You and You are Me.

The fire to know of ones past is often lit at
the time in life when one realizes that the world neither began when we were born nor that
the universe revolves around a single individual. Modern science is beginning to realize
that we are a balance between what our ancestors have passed on to us in their genes (half
from our fathers and half from our mothers) and the collective experiences, beliefs and
cultural traits they passed as well. Many have said to understand the future we have to
understand the past or to know where we are going, we have to understand where we have
been. When I began to ask the questions, "Who am I? Where did I come from?", I
was surprised how little written materials family members left so that we would know about
their lifestyles, work, views of life and preferences, and records of their past. Usually
this was limited to birth, marriage and death dates recorded in a family Bible. It was
this that encouraged me to record my research and experiences in notes and essays so that
future generations would understand their past in terms of life and culture, not just
names and numbers on a chart. In this work, I try to pass on what I learned about the
McKeehans beginning in Greene County, Tennessee, USA.

The challenge was where to start digging through mountains of
information for the needle in a haystack, like a prospector digging for nuggets of gold. I
began with the parent-to-child method. This was a very rich source for my father loved his
kin and began some research on his own which he passed to me orally and I remembered quite
clearly. I then began to contact family members all the while trying to sort through fact
versus fiction. I also searched the cemeteries and recorded names and dates from
tombstones. This provided a base of both oral information and some written records for
further documentation. Knowledge of the family history is a continuous process. In the
past years there has been an explosion in the availability of records and general
information through the internet. Sharing of information is occurring at an amazing rate.
I hope that this work will serve as a base and encouragement for those who read it to
continue to dig into our past and add details and correct errors.

The notes and essays cover a single lineage of the McKeehan surname
beginning in Greene County, Tennessee that includes individuals who themselves or their
parents are thought to have originated in Ireland, Scotland, Germany. Eastern Tennessee
was probably not their first home in America, but it is where the greatest part of the
story begins. From Tennessee, the family moved to central Arkansas and then to the
Texarkana area of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The majority of descendants still
cluster in the Ark-La-Tex area and now the Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston metropolitan areas
of Texas.

Who was Malando McKeehan? In stories to his children, James Washington McKeehan (1870-1956)
referred to his grandfather named Malando McKeehan from Clare County, Ireland.Genealogical records indicate that Landon C. McKeehan(1798-aft. 1860) appears
to be the grandfather of James W. McKeehan. The name Landon appears in families of
descendants. In addition to Landon C., a John McKeehan (b. 1794 Greene Co.,TN; m.
Nancy Reaves 1818) named a son Landon (b. 1829; m. Martha Overholser 1855). This could be
the John D. McKeehan who said that he had known Sarah Maria Sylar McKeehan (James
Washington McKeehan's mother) all her life and attested to the validity of her marriage to
Charles Coffner McKeehan for Sarahs pension application. Alexander Haywood and Mary
Catherine Sylar McKeehan named their oldest son, Charles Landon McKeehan. The common usage
of the given name Charles in the family suggests that Landon C. may have been Landon
Charles. Landon C. McKeehans birthplace, Greene County, Tennessee is deduced from
census and other records, although conceivably he was an Irish immigrant or descendant of
one named Malando who became known as Landon. It is notable that the name Malando can be
converted to Landon simply by dropping "Ma" and adding an "n".
Alternatively the name Landon could have evolved into Malando down through the years in
stories by family members who had long lost contact with the folks back in
Tennessee. Immigrants often Americanized the spelling of their names when they had a
foreign sound. Landon McKeehans father (probably born before 1780) or
grandfather may have been an Irish immigrant named Malando McKeehan and the name became
compressed into more recent generations in family stories. It has also been suggested that
Landon may be the surname of his mothers family since given names of children that
were a mothers maiden name was not uncommon in the period.

Family legend says that ancestor Malando McKeehan
immigrated from Clare County, Ireland to Glasgow, Scotland where he met and married wife
Nancy before immigrating to America. Although Landon McKeehan married a Nancy, there is no
evidence to link her or her family to Scotland (Nancys
family, the Girdners, appears to be of German origin). A legend related to this
migration in the family was that a McKeehan ancestor married into a family in Scotland who
were owners of prosperous woolen mills. Upon the death of the McKeehan husband, the widow
willed the huge fortune to the related McKeehan families of America. James Washington
McKeehan (the authors' father and grandfather) said that he worked on proving a
relationship in the early part of the 20th century and was the source of the legend. The
story goes that they made progress in the reconstruction until coming to a home in east
Tennessee that had burned and with it the critical records which were in a family Bible. A
similar legend has been reported by descendants of James Washingtons older brother,
Charles Houston, and a descendant of another McKeehan line originating in GreenCo,
TN, that of Fred and Florence Brandon McKeehan of Hamilton County, Tennessee, so far an
unlinked line to the one described here.

Another family legend was that the line was
related to Sam Houston who was governor and US Senator from Tennessee before emigrating to
Texas to lead the fight for Texas independence and become the first President and later
Governor of Texas. This legend may have some basis in that a Samuel Houston was a
close friend of the Hartley and Sylar families of Virginia and Tennessee who married into
the McKeehan family. A Samuel Houston was named executor of the Last Will and Testament of Peter Hartley in
RoaneCo, Tennessee in 1827. Houston and Hartley have been used to the present for
given names of descendants.

THE LEGEND OF MALANDO AND NANCY
MCKEEHAN[as told to Wallace Clark McKeehan (1913-2001) by his father James W. McKeehan
(1870-1956)]

This is the story of ancestors Malando and Nancy McKeehan of Clare
County, Ireland and Glasgow, Scotland as passed by father James Washington McKeehan
primarily at fireside family gatherings to son W.C. McKeehan. Never written until the
present, the story was passed among descendants and relatives mouth to mouth and no doubt
has been changed, enhanced and embellished according to the story tellers
imagination. However, the basic theme of the same story appears in parallel in stories
related by descendants of James Washington McKeehans brothers and sisters which
indicates a common origin for the legend presumably originating from Charles Coffner
McKeehan and continued after his death by widow Sarah Maria Sylar McKeehan and their older
sons. With the advent of radio and television and other forms of external entertainment,
the fireside family gatherings and story-telling sessions disappeared and hopefully
replaced by good written records of the lives of those now living who will become the
ancestors of generations to come. It is hoped that future research will identify and
verify the authenticity of this oral record of our earliest Irish and Scottish ancestors.

Malando McKeehan. Working with his hoe in the
spring among the neat rows of young potato plants on the McKeehan family farm in County
Clare, Ireland, young Malando wondered to himself how much longer the family can survive
before real starvation sets in due to the repeated years of crop failure due to the
drought and insects. With hope, he worked the wilted and insect-cropped potato seedlings,
he thought maybe this season is the end of the failures and a return to the bountiful
harvests that he had heard of from his elders. Sadly, the summer brought only dry heat and
more insects and as harvest came the crop was smaller than ever giving rise to temporary
thoughts of desperation. Malando made his difficult decision amid pangs of disloyalty, he
thought Oh Ireland, Oh Ireland, they call you the Emerald Isle, like my
grandfather, my father before, I have loved you, but now theres no choice, I must
leave but only for a while until the desperation lifts and then I shall return.

Taking his only living possession, his horse, he saddled up and rode
out of County Clare on the one hand deceiving himself that it was only for a while, but
deeply knowing he would never return. He headed northwest having heard tales of
opportunities in the great city of Glasgow where jobs were plentiful and even paid enough
where one could save a little for the future. A farmer by birth, Malando like many of his
descendants was resourceful and could be classified a "handyman", willing and
ready to do about anything within his skills and intellect to earn his way. Selling his
horse near Belfast, he managed passage across the North Channel to the industrial city of
Glasgow. Compared to the desperation in Clare County, he found the tales of life in the
city true beyond his imagination with shipyards, trade, coal industry and woolen mills
galore. You could pick the place you wanted to work and he went to work at once in the
woolen mills where he sooned gained favor with the local owner because of his hard work
and dedication to the job. Sooner rather than later the young Clare County Irishman met
the owners daughter Nancy and it was love at first sight. Marriage soon followed and
Nancys father was pleased with his new son-in-law and entertained thoughts of his
taking over the business.

The news of opportunities and riches in the new world, America, was
sweeping Glasgow like wildfire. Tales of unlimited, virgin land just for living on it and
improving it abounded. Agents for ships captains were making attractive offers for
passage at sums not out of the range of the newlyweds earnings and savings from
Nancys fathers mills. Evenings around the fireside were spent talking of the
new land and all the details related to getting there and forsaking old Ireland and now
Scotland. They spoke of their countrymen who were selling all just to meet the fare to the
new land. Having no assets in land, Malando pondered whether he and Nancy could gather the
funds to make a contract with the ships departing for America, whether in order to save
enough to meet the costs that they would be too old to make the move. The scene changed
quickly when Nancys father became ill and never recovered. By the bedside of
father-in-law and father, Malando and Nancy learned that his will was written. The dying
father knew the young couples dreams were toward the new land, America, their
enthusiastic conversations by the evening firesides had not escaped him. Not giving them
the details, he assured them that they would be taken care of and all the McKeehan
families of America. He blessed and approved of their dreams of the new world and even
wished that he could go along. Immediate provisions were made from his assets for their
fare to the new land.

Being frugal with their meager assets, Malando and Nancy made the deal
for passage to America. The ship they chose had no first, second or third class. Those
with money could at best bribe a crewman for a temporary and private spot on the crowded
vessel in which to rest or escape the crowd. Seasickness, loss of sleep, poor rations and
facilities was the norm, but could not dampen the enthusiasm and anticipation for the
opportunities in the new land. There were no safes or security, if one had possessions one
kept them on ones person the entire voyage. Where Malando and Nancy landed on the
eastern shores of America, no one knows, but legend says there were mountains to cross. [Written
by W.C. McKeehan in 1998 prior to his death in 2001]

This work begins with Landon C.
McKeehan in Greene County, Tennessee. We have no documented information about his
parents or brothers and sisters and their origin except legend (see "Legends-Fact
or Fiction?"). Around the turn of the 19th century, when local written records
began to appear in the region the surname and related spellings appear frequently in
Greene County, Tennessee. There are much fewer McKeehans in surrounding counties in the
state. Authorities on British surnames say that the surname is Irish and fairly restricted
to Clare County, Ireland. The spelling is thought to be the anglicization of the Gaelic
MacCaochain. The Mc or Mac denotes son or descendant of Caochain. Caochain was an ancient
personal name derived from Caoch meaning "blind." It is also possible the
surname is the anglicized MacCathain which was a Gaelic given name derived from
"cath" meaning "battle." It was common in the Middle Ages to name
children after saints of which there is a St. Cathain. The McKeehans of Ireland belong to
the tribe of Dalg Cais (Dalcassian) and claim to descend from Brian Boru, King of Munster
and all Ireland until he fell at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

The origin of the McKeehan line
described here and whether the current spelling of it was that originating in Ireland or
Scotland is unknown. The spellings McAighan, McCain, McCean, McHighan, McIan, McKaen,
McKean, McKeenah, McKeghan, McKeon, McKighan, Millighan/Mileghan and other variants of the
foregoing with a "G" for the "K," one single "e" instead of
double "e," and "e" for the "a" of "han" appear on
documents that appear to refer to persons named McKeehan either contemporary to the
inscription or in previous or subsequent generations. Many of these are likely the
interpretation of the recorder of the document as to how the name sounded, but also could
be changes implemented by individual families for diverse reasons. The names John, George,
James, Samuel and Benjamin McKeehan appear frequently in early Greene County documents in
the period late 18th and early 19th centuries. The name Landon is rare. A
contemporary of Landon C. McKeehan, John McKeehan (b. 1794 GreeneCo; m. Nancy Reaves), had
children William W., Landon and Susan Malcolm.

One of the earliest informative
wills in Greene County, Tennessee is that of "Samuel Mehan McAighan" (Mehan is thought to be a recording error,
probably meant Mchan, writer is giving a choice of surname, Mehan or McAighan)
who died in 1785, which at that time was part of the State of Franklin. He left
assets to wife and children, Margaret, James and Mary.

In the Name of God Amen The 11 of March 1785 I Samuel Mchan of Greene
County Franklin State being of perfect mind and memory only weak in Body and calling to
mind my Mortality. Do make and ordain this my last will and Testment touching such worldly
Estate as I am possessed of I dispose of in the maner and form following Viz: In the first
place, after all my lawfull debts are payed I give to my Beloved wife one third of my
Estate both real and personal for the term of her life. My sorrel mare she is to have in
part of her share. Secondly I give and bequeth to my three Children Margret James and Mary
the remaining part of my Estate to be equally divided amongst them. Thirdly after my wifes
death I bequath her part of the Estate to be divided equally amongst the whole of my
children. Lastly I alow the money due for service to be saved and laid out for the use of
the family to purchase salt and other nesseryes. I likewise constitute My wife and my
brother Henery Fernsworth, my sole Executors in this my last will and testment I likewise
alow my Exers to bind out my son James to a good trade if he is like to prove disobedient
to his mother. Lastly I do ratify and Confirm this to be my last will and testment In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day XXXXXXXXXXXX above writen,
Signed sealed and delivered.....Samul McKighan {Seal} in presents of us Benjamin Jameson,
James O (his mark) McKighan

From page 671 of microfilm Roll #A6261 in the Dallas Public Library
which is copied from some loose Greene Co, TN records. A handwritten copy of the will was
made after 1785 and entered into the GreeneCo records which is also on microfilm. The
pages have RULE DOCKET, COUNTY COURT at the top, and Samuel McKighan's will is on pages
177a and 178. At the bottom of the microfilm copy is an identification slip which
reads: The Last Will & Testament of Saml Mchighan 1785 3-11-1785 177-a
178-(There is writing that shows through onto the will from the opposite side and may
affect the punctuation). Transcribed verbatim and provided by Lawrence Dyer. The reference to "my
brother Henery Fernsworth" is thought to actually be Samuel's brother-in-law Henry
Farnsworth suggesting that wife Margaret's maiden name was Farnsworth.

Living near the Landon McKeehan household
in the 1840 census was a George H. McKeehan (b. 1799; m. Elizabeth Millard; children:
Priscilla, James, Franklin, Alfred Lafayette, Sarah E. and Rachael Caroline). Both
households moved from Greene to Monroe Counties at about the same
time. Living with George H. in 1840 was a 90-100 year
old male (b. 1730-1740) who could be the father of the clan. A
working hypothesis of some McKeehan researchers is that James McKeehan, the son of Samuel
McKeehan mentioned in the above 1785 will, is the 81 year old James living in the
household of Robert and Mary (Polly) (McKeehan) Simpson in the 1850 census of MonroeCo and
the husband of Elizabeth Lauderdale (m. 1797 in GreeneCo). James and Elisabeth
McKeehan are speculated to have had children Mary (Polly) (m. Robert Simpson), George H.
(m. Elizabeth Millard), James (m. Nancy Hollingsworth), Samuel (m. Susan Overholtzer),
Anna (m. Ephraim Overholtzer) and Jane (m. Robert Hays). Margaret McKeehan in the
1785 will of Samuel Mehan/McAighan is thought to be the wife of John Lauderdale of
Nolichucky (m. 1796) and Mary in the 1785 will has been speculated to be the wife of John
Brown (m. 1801 GreeneCo). By pure speculation, the process of elimination and
proximity in time and geography, it has been speculated that Landon McKeehan might also be
a son of James and Elizabeth Lauderdale McKeehan.

The latter part of the 19th century,
the McKeehan surname and variants of it was notable in counties of eastern
Pennsylvania. Census records indicate the James McKeehan (b. 1769) of GreeneCo, TN
was born in PA by census record and other GreenCo McKeehans were also from the
region. The German-speaking Girdner family can be traced to NorthamptonCo, PA prior
to their arrival in GreeneCo in 1792, but
McKeehans preceded them. The most extensive work on McKeehans of PA is The
Families of Joshua Williams and John McKeehan of Cumberland, County, published 1928.
To date there is no evidence to link the GreeneCo McKeehans to that group, although
the first names are strikingly similar. Revolutionary War records of PA list
numerous individuals whose spellings of the surname would indicate they are McKeehans,
e.g. McKean, McGeehan, McGighans, McGeghan, McKighan, spellings which also appear in East
Tennessee. The Families of Joshua Williams and John McKeehan of Cumberland,
County speculate the following on the origin of the CumberlandCo McKeehans:

Of interest in tracing the McKeehan and allied families is the
following from "Scotch-Irish Pioneers", by Charles Knowles Bolton, page 267:
"A Southern stronghold of Presbyterianism was in the neighborhood of Newcastle,
Delaware. The narrow tongue of land between the upper shore of Chesapeake Bay and the
Delaware river is shared by Maryland and Delaware, Maryland's portion includes the Elk
River, and is known as Cecil County. Delaware's portion is called Newcastle County, with
Wilmington, its chief city, at the mouth of Christiana Creek. North of these two counties,
and across the Pennsylvania line, are Lancaster and Chester counties, (all known as
Chester County from 1682 to 1729), extending from the Delaware River to the Susquehanna
River.

"This territory, south a few miles from Philadelphia, became the
mecca for Scotch emigrants from Ireland. "These emigrants pushed up through Newcastle
County to cross the Pennsylvania line, hoping to escape from Maryland and its tithes.
Unfortunately, at this very time, the exact line of the boundary was in dispute between
Lord Baltimore and the heirs of William Penn, and many of the settlers flocked in and
preempted land in dispute without obtaining right or title. To add to the confusion, the
Penn family were in a state of domestic discord, so that their agent, James Logan, allowed
very few grants in any place after the year 1720. An exception was made however in case of
Scotch-Irish, people who, said Logan, 'if kindly used, will I believe be orderly, as they
have hitherto been, and easily dealt with; they will also, I expect, be a leading example
to others'." These grants were made for a settlement which was called Donegal.

Also from page 280 of Mr. Bolton's book: "In looking over the map
of Pennsylvania we find that these townships, Donegal, Paxtang, Derry, and Hanover (near
the Susquehanna) and Drumore, Coleraine, Fallowfield, and Sadsbury (along Octorara creek,
which marks the Western line of Chester County after 1729), together with the Brandywine
farms a little north of Wilmington, the Neshaminy lands north of Philadelphia, and Allen
township, ten miles west of Easton, comprise the earliest settlements of the Scotch-Irish
in Pennsylvania. The settlers who first occupied these fertile lands entered America at
the ports of Philadelphia and Newcastle."

Among the signatures to a memorial dated March 26tb, 1718, and
addressed to "the Right Honorable Colonel Samuel Shute, Governor of New England"
from, "we, whose names are underwritten, Inhabitants of Ye North of Ireland. . doe
assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty inclination to Transport ourselves to that
very excellent and renowned Plantation, upon our obtaining from Ms Excellency suitable
encouragement". .. etc., is that of John McKeen. Other signatures are those of
Alexander McBride, Bart, James Patterson, James and George Campbell, Mr. Patterson, and
James Alexander. Inasmuch as our McKeehans, McBrides, Pattersons, lived in the same
vicinity and intermarried through many generations, it is possible that the above John
McKeen was our emigrant ancestor. There was no dependable uniformity of spelling at that
date, even in the case of a single individual. This is exemplified in the military records
preserved in the Pennsylvania Archives, where the same man's name is given as
"Alexander McKeehan" and "Alexander McKean" within a few lines.
The tradition in every branch of the family is that practically every McKeehan of possible
age for service was in the Revolutionary War, and the records of Pennsylvania prove that
many of them were. Old time carelessness of spelling often makes it difficult to identify
these soldiers.

Census, marriage and various records
from eastern Tennessee indicate that LANDON C. MCKEEHAN was born in 1798 in Greene
County, Tennessee, was a farmer and the father of CHARLES
COFFNER MCKEEHAN. Landon married NANCY GIRDNER
in 1820 in Greene County. By 1821 Landon, Nancy and family had moved to Monroe County
where Charles Coffner was born in 1821. He made a land transfer to Adam Mowry in 1830, to
Elijah Perck? in 1831 and served as a member of the Monroe County quarterly court in 1831.
Documents referring to where some of the children grew up indicated the family probably
lived in or near Sweetwater in MonroeCo. Landon and family appear in the 1840 census
in Monroe County and in Bradley County in 1850. Oldest sons, Charles Coffner and Alexander
Haywood, enlisted for the Mexican War in 1847 in Athens in current McMinnCo which was
probably the closest office to their MonroeCo home rather than their residence. Landon
last appears in the Bradley County census in 1860 and on a deed transfer of 120 acres on
which he resided to James Biggs for $423 the same year. Absence from the 1870 census of
Tennessee and other records suggest that Landon may have died between 1860-1870. However,
a L.C. McKeehan gave the marriage bond at the wedding of Landons grandson, Alexander
Hayden McKeehan (son of Alexander Haywood McKeehan) in Knoxville, Knox
County in 1887. However, this was more likely Alexander Hayden's brother Charles
Landon or another relative since Landon C. would have been 89 years old at this time with
a gap in records of 27 years. However, Landon C. McKeehan's wife Nancy Girdner
McKeehan died at age 95 in 1900 in Knoxville of pneumonia and is buried there in New Gray
Cemetery. At the time of her death, she was
living at 614 Akin St. and had lived in Knoxville for over 25 years.

Nancy Girdner,
born in GreeneCo, TN, was the ninth and youngest child of Michael Girdner Sr. (born 1754 in
Pennsylvania) and Huldah Beech (born about 1766 in Nobletown, Massachusetts). Michael was
German-speaking as indicated by his will written in 1815 in Greene County which was in
German. Michael was the son of German immigrants David (born bef. 1734) and
Christina Girdner. The Girdner surname is an apparent anglicization of the German
Göertner, Gaertner or Gärtner, probably the counterpart of the English surname
Gardener. In records from Tennessee, the surname appears as Gardner, Gurtner,
Gurdner and Girtner. From which German-speaking country in Europe they came from and how
and where they arrived on the east coast is unclear. The David Girdner family
settled in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, PA. According to descendants,
Michael Girdner Sr. met his wife Huldah Beach while serving in the Revolutionary War in
either Maine or Massachusetts with Huldah's brother. Huldah was daughter of Nathan
and Desire Bixby Beach of Nobletown, MA. The Girdner families came to Greene County,
TN with two horses and a wagon in 1792 on a seven week journey according to Goodspeeds
History of Tennessee. After Michael Girdner Sr.s death in 1815, Huldah
Beach Girdner married Lewis Ball who died in 1832. A deed transfer from Monroe County in
1832 in which Huldah wills Michael Jr. land in Greene County providing he will take care
of her for life indicates that Huldah may have spent her final years with son, Michael
Jr., in Monroe County near daughter Nancy and son-in-law Landon McKeehan. A number
of documents in Monroe County indicate that Michael Girdner Jr. and family moved from
Greene County to Monroe County, Tennessee at about the same time as the Landon McKeehan
family where oldest son CHARLES COFFNER MCKEEHAN was born in 1821.

Alexander was a Pvt. in Company H of the 5th Tennessee
Infantry Regiment, he enlisted together with brother Charles in Athens, Tennessee in 1847
and was discharged in 1848. The two brothers served under Capt. Harrison Dill and Gen.
George P. McClellan at Vera Cruz guarding the Jalapa Bridge. He also served as a Corporal
in Company B of the 1st Tennessee (Carters) Cavalry for the Confederate States of
America (CSA), the same unit as his brother, William W. He served from 1861 until
the surrender of his unit in May 1865 in Washington, Georgia. In 1850 Alexander Haywood
was living with hotelkeeper William Arnett in Hamilton County and working as a carpenter.
He married Maria (Mary) Catherine Sylar in Ooltewah, Hamilton County in 1852. Mary
Catherine was a sister of Sarah Maria Sylar,
who married Alexander Haywoods older brother, Charles Coffner McKeehan. In the
1856, entries in the journal of Mary
Catherine's father, Peter Sylar, indicate they may have been living in Ringgold, GA.
Receipts dated 1862 were also found in the papers of Peter Sylar.

In 1860 the family of A.H., Mary C. and two children Sarah (b. ca.
1854) and Charles Landon (b. 1860) was living in Bradley County. In the 1880 census of
CatoosaCo, GA just across the state line from Chattanooga, A.H. was listed as a carpenter
with housewife Mary, Charles a physician, Hayden a farmworker and William G. Knoxville
County records list the weddings of two of his children: In 1881, Nancy McKeehan witnessed
the wedding of Charles L. McKeehan (22 yr. salesman of Hamilton Co) to Ellen ER Gray (15
yr.) on 25 Dec. 1887 records show McKeehan, A. H. to Mary Smith by H.W. Bays, MG, Apr. 19,
bond given by L. C. McKeehan.

Mary Catherine Sylar McKeehan was living in Hamilton County, Tennessee
when she applied for a Civil War veterans widows
pension after Alexanders death in Shelby County in 1892. Her application stated
that she had been a resident of Tennessee the last 3 years and nine months and her
marriage license was burned in Harrison, Hamilton County during the war. She was receiving
$12 per month pension from Alexanders service in the Mexican War. Her application
was witnessed by Alexanders brother, William W. McKeehan, living at 1233 E. Oldham
St., Knoxville,Tennessee. He had known the applicant for 51 years who he stated was
residing in Chattanooga the last 3.75 years. William stated that his brother had lived all
his life in Tennessee with the exception of 6 years. The pension application was processed
quickly, but obviously the widow heard nothing. In 1916, Mary Catherine wrote to the
Tennessee Pension Board of Examiners from East Lake,Tennessee saying she had heard nothing
since October and inquired of status of her application. A document from the War
Department to the Board in 1910 stated that Alexander enlisted 7 Aug. 1861, a note in June
1862 showed him absent without leave since 1 Jun 1862. However, brother William W.
attested in the widows pension application that he and Alexander were present on the
day of surrender of their unit to Federal Forces in 1865 in Washington, Georgia. When she
died in 1922, Mary Catherine was living with son W.G. McKeehan in Ridgedale, Chattanooga
where she had lived since A.H.s death. She was a member of the Ridgedale Methodist
Church and Eastern Star and is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery.

MITCHELL MCKEEHAN (b. 1829)

In 1850, Mitchell was a blacksmith living with the blacksmith James and
Lorinda Marble (Mamble?) in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

LAFAYETTE MCKEEHAN (b. 1831)
m. Nancy (b. 1844 in Arkansas)

At age 18, Lafayette was still living on the farm in Bradley County in
1850. In 1860, Lafayette, listed as a farm laborer, was living in Saline County, Arkansas
near his oldest brother, Charles Coffner McKeehan and family.

JAMES MCKEEHAN (b. 1834)

In 1850, 16 year old James was at home on the farm. In 1860, 26 year
old James was still living on the farm in Bradley County. He served with the 1st Tennessee
(Carters) Cavalry for the CSA in the Civil War.

THERESE P. MCKEEHAN (1836-1905)
m. John Roberts (

Therese served as a witness in support of brother W. W. McKeehan's petition for disability support from the
State of Tennessee signing the document Tressa P. Roberts. At the time of her death
from pneumonia in 1905, she was living at 614 Atkin St., a widow. She had been a
member of the Christian Church for 53 yr, her funeral was at Forest Avenue Christian
Church. She was buried in Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, TN. The address at
time of the time of death was same as the last address of her widowed mother, Nancy G.
McKeehan.

Children

John Lee
(d. 1923)
m. Maggie Mae Lawhon

D.M. (1861-1940)
m. Mary D.

Dorothy?
m. N.E. Shields

John Lee Roberts date of birth is unknown, he was in Panama
in 1915 and New Orleans in 1917. He married Maggie Lawhon in 1898 in Knoxville, TN.
He died of anemia in 1923 in Nashville, TN. They had children Julia Theresa
(m. William A. Barksdale), Margaret (m. Herbert Dittrick), Anna Christine (m. Robert M.
Wallace), Dorothy May (m. Lee O. Edwards) and John Lee Jr. (died in infancy).

SAMUEL W. MCKEEHAN (b. 1838)

In 1860, 22 year old Samuel was still living on the farm in Bradley
County. Samuel W. attested to validity of the marriage of Sarah Sylar McKeehan and Charles
Coffner when she applied for a Mexican War veterans pension in Arkansas in 1890.

William served as a Pvt. in Company B, 1st Tennessee
(Carters) Cavalry under Capt. William Snow for the Confederate States of America. In
1902 William W. first applied for a Confederate soldiers
pension on the basis that, although he was not wounded in battle, he was taken
prisoner after a battle in Danville, Kentucky. While in prison in Louisville, Kentucky,
after mandatory vaccination after exposure to smallpox, he was attacked with varioloid
eruptions which left scars on his eyes from which his vision never recovered. At the time
of the application, he was blind in his left eye and near blind in the right. Witnesses
confirmed that after his release from prison and although he was incapacitated for duty,
he remained with his command until the surrender of Johnstons army in Lexington,
Georgia in 1865. He was described at time of application as near helpless with an invalid
oldest son . His application was signed with his mark (X). A series of requests were made
from 1902 to 1911 for an increase in his annual pension of $100 as he became totally blind
and deaf due to exploding shells at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A letter from
Col. James Carter of Knoxville, his commander in the war, attested that W.W. was a good
soldier, always ready for duty and battle. A letter from Mr. Walter Benson to Tennessee
Senator John Houk, an old friend, appealed for an increase in pension for W.W. who Mr.
Benson knew as a boy and neighbor in Sweetwater,Tennessee. A 1912 letter from the
Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners vouched for membership for W.W. in The Abner Baker
Chapter, UDC commenting that "this man deserves a cross of honor."

William W., Anna, Cleveland B. (b. 1877) and William (b. 1883) are
listed in the 1900 Census in Knoxville living on Tulip St. Both William W. and Anna died
in Knoxville, Tennessee and are buried there in Greenwood Cemetery along with children
Ella Jane and Cleveland. William M. is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Knoxville.

I wrote my will myself, to wife Polly, to three sons Wm. P., Jasper N.
and John M.; to daughters Mary C. McKamy when she reaches 21 and Elizabeth Jane Dodson.

Obituary and death certificate says Doctor E. moved from McMinn County
in 1913, was a member of the First Baptist Church, a retired farmer who died from
complications of a paralyzing stroke two years earlier. In his will written in 1927 and
probated in 1931, Doctor E. left his nephew, Charles C. Webb $100 (son of Mary E.
McKeehan) and everything else to wife Mary C.

[Minute Book no. 13, pg. 128.] I, D.E. McKeehan of Bradley County,
Tennessee, do make and publish this my last will and testament. First; I direct that
all my debts including personal and burial expenses be paid by my executrix and of the
first money that comes into her hands. Second; I give and bequeath to my nephew,
Charles C. Webb, the sum of $100 (one hundred dollars). Third; I give and bequeath
to my wife, Mary C. McKeehan, the remainder of all my effects of every kind and character,
and I appoint her my executrix to serve without bond. In testimony whereof, I
hereunto sign my name on this the third day of Oct. 1927 in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses, who sign in my presence and at my request, and in the presence of
each other. Signed: D.E. McKeehan, R.T. Allen, Mrs. R.T. Allen.

Mary C. in her will written 1936 and probated in 1937 appointed Mrs.
N.T. Hall and W.P. McKamy as executors. She authorized sell of residence and lot on 1526
Ocoee St. in Cleveland, Tennessee and distributed her assets to 15 nieces and nephews. She
added in her will that any relative questioning amounts to be received from her will
forfeit the said amount and are to get no more than $1.00. Doctor E. and Mary C. McKeehan
are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, southwest of Cleveland in Bradley County, Tennessee.

[4 Jan in Minute Book No. 14, page 378] Being of sound mind and
disposing memory, I, Mary C. McKeehan of Bradley County, Tennessee, do hereby make,
publish and declare this as my last will and testament. First, I will and desire
that I shall be given respectable burial and that the expenses of my last illness and
burial and the cost of erecting a substantial marker be paid as soon as practicable. I
also will and desire that my Executors as soon as practicable ascertain and pay
inheritance taxes or other fixed charges by law against my estate and property real and
personal. Second, I nominate and appoint Mrs. N.T. Hall and W.P. McKamy as executors
of this my will, and fully cloth and empower them to sell and dispose of my house and lot
on Ocose St. <sic spelling unclear>, in Cleveland, Tenn., if I have not already
disposed of it, or any other real estate I may own at the time of my death, and having
full faith and confidence in the integrity of my said relative s named as executors, I
expressly excuse them from bond and inventory. Third, I will and dispose of my said
estate as follows: (1) After deducting from each of the specific bequests which
follow their proportionate part of inheritance taxes and the costs of administration of my
estate, I will, (a) to my niece Tennie Long Pierce, if she is living at the time of
my death, four hundred dollars, ($400.00), but if she does not survive me, this bequest
will lapse and become void. (b) to my nephew C.F. Dodson, four hundred dollars.
(c) to my nephews and niece Elbert Dodson, Walter Dodson, Paul Dodson and Ruth
Dodson Davenport, each the sum of one hundred dollars, that is to the four of them, the
sum of four hundred dollars. Fourth, the rest, remainder and residue, of every kind
and character, I will, devise and bequeath, as follows: The one-half thereof is the
children of my deceased brother, John M. McKamy, who are Sarah McKamy, W.P. McKamy, and
Dorothy McKamy. The other half to the children of my deceased brother J.N. McKamy, who are
Mrs. Nellie Outlaw, Mrs. Tulie Hall, Mrs. Cora Jameson and Fred McKamy. Fifth, I
have endeavored to make a fair and equitable division of my estate and have herein
recorded my will and disposition of the same, and it is my express will and desire that if
any of the beneficiaries are dissatisfied and in any manner contest the same, or engage in
or encourage any litigation against the administration of my said estate in accordance
with my directions given then such on or ones, shall thereby forfeit and loose all
interest I my estate, and benefits provided under this will and in full discharge of all
claims to that one or one, my executors will pay the sum of one dollar in full and compete
settlement. In testimony thereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this my will, in
the presence of the undersigned witnesses, who sign in my presence, and at my
request and in presence of each other on this the 5th day of March, 1936. Signed: Mrs.
Mary C. McKeehan. Witnesses: James L. Wilson, P.B. Mayfield.

JANE MCKEEHAN (b. 1846) Never married

MARY EDWARDS MCKEEHAN (1848-1933)
m. Pleasant Crew Webb (1840-1914)

Children

Eliza Jane (b. 1867)
m. Charles J. Kincaid

Margaret
McNutt (b. 1869)
m. Luther M. Kirby

John Crew (b. 1870)
m. Bertha Ward

Richard McKeehan (1872-1962)
m. Clara Mae Johnson

Katherine Ann (b. 1874)
m. Walter H. Ryno

Charles
Claiborne (1876-1969)

Walter (b. 1880)

Samuel Edgar (b. 1883)
m. Ruth Margarette Simmons

Mary Pleasant (1888-1975)
m. James A. Howard..

Mary Edwards married P.C. Webb in Monroe
County,Tennessee in 1866 with Rev. L.K. Haynes officiating. Both Mary E. and Pleasant Crew
lived most of their lives in and around Knoxville. According to her obituary which states
"she was the daughter of the late Landon McKeehan and Nancy Gardner McKeehan",
Mary was living at 1417 Forest Avenue in Knoxville when she died. Both she and P.C. Webb
are buried in New Gray Cemetery. Mary Edwards was apparently the last to die of the
children of Landon McKeehan. Her youngest daughter, Mary P. Howard, who died in
Knoxville 10 Feb. 1975 was likely the last of grandchildren of Landon McKeehan.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12/15/2001.
Wallace C. "Mac" McKeehan, 88, a retired minister,
died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 in Burleson. Funeral: 11 a.m. Monday at Calvary
Pentecostal Church, 700 McPherson
Rd., the Rev. Ron Liles officiating. Burial: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 2-4
p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Wallace McKeehan was born Oct. 16, 1913 in Miller County,
Ark. He was a Pentecostal minister for 35 years, serving as an evangelist and pastor
across the U.S. and Canada, and a painting contractor for many years. He was a member of
Calvary Pentecostal Church. Mr. McKeehan enjoyed fishing, reading, writing, and was the
family historian. He was a very unique man, a good man, and a friend to all the
neighborhood children. He was loved by all and will be missed by his family and many
friends. Mr. McKeehan was preceded in death by three brothers; and four sisters. The
family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to Covenant Hospice for their
compassion and loving care and to Pam Yarger for all her special assistance. Survivors:
Wife of 58 years, Dorothy McKeehan of Fort Worth; sons, Wallace Lee McKeehan and wife,
Kerstin of Bellaire, Richard Kent McKeehan and wife, Janice of Fort Worth, Stephen Douglas
McKeehan and wife, Donna of Burleson, Kevin Apollos McKeehan of Fort Worth; grandchildren,
Maria Kristina McKeehan, Landon Douglas McKeehan, Zachary Taylor McKeehan; brother, John
B. McKeehan and wife, Doris of Horatio, Ark.; sisters, Marjorie McKeehan and Deen
Patterson, both of Atlanta, Texas, Camilla White of Maud, Texas, Jessie Golden of Fouke,
Ark.